Singapore holds the crown as the world’s most powerful passport, with visa-free access to 193 destinations out of 227 globally, according to the latest Henley Passport Index. Canada dropped one place on the list, holding relatively steady at eighth globally in 2025 and sitting only nine countries behind the leader (and five out of third place).
Powered by exclusive Timatic data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the survey ranks all the world’s passports based on the number of destinations their holders can enter without a prior visa. Asian nations continue to lead the global mobility race, with Japan and South Korea sharing 2nd place, each granting their citizens access to 190 destinations visa-free.
A strong European contingent occupies the rest of the Top 5. Seven EU passports share 3rd place — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain, all with access to 189 destinations.
Another seven-nation European cohort, with visa-free entry to 188 destinations, are joint 4th – Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden – while New Zealand, the only nation to challenge the regional dominance, ties in 5th place with Greece and Switzerland.
At the other end of the global mobility spectrum, Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the ranking, with its citizens able to access just 25 destinations without a prior visa – a staggering mobility gap of 168 destinations between the top- and bottom-ranked passports.
Canada, whose citizens can visit 184 destinations visa free – including visas on arrival (VOA) and electronic travel authority (ETA) – reached a lofty No. 2 in the rankings in 2014, dropping to No. 4 a year later, but has settled in between sixth and ninth since 2016.
Biggest risers and fallers
The UK and US each dropped a place in the global passport rankings since January, continuing a long-term downward trend. Once the most powerful passports in the world – the UK in 2015 and the US in 2014 – they now rank 6th and 10th, respectively. The UK currently has visa-free access to 186 destinations, while the US trails with 182. Notably, the US is now on the brink of exiting the Top 10 altogether for the first time in the index’s 20-year history.
India has recorded the largest jump in ranking over the past six months, climbing eight places from 85th to 77th, despite only adding two destinations to its visa-free tally, now at 59. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has made the biggest gain in visa-free access, adding four destinations since January. Its total now stands at 91, lifting the kingdom four places to 54th.
A long-term retrospective view of the index reveals a general global shift towards increased openness, greater mobility, and rising passport strength. Over the past decade, more than 80 passports have climbed at least 10 places, and the global average number of destinations travellers are able to access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2025.
The UAE continues to be a standout among the top risers, shooting up 34 places over the last 10 years from 42nd to 8th place, making it the only big riser to break into the Top 10 in the ranking.
Another notable winner is China, also rising 34 places from 94th to 60th since 2015 – particularly impressive considering that, unlike other top risers, China has not yet gained visa-free access to Europe’s Schengen Area.
This downward shift in rankings amongst legacy powers underscores a broader trend: traditional mobility champions are losing ground in an increasingly multi-polar world. As emerging economies liberalize their visa regimes and invest in diplomatic capital, legacy powers like the UK and the US appear to be retreating behind more restrictive entry policies.
Dr. Juerg Steffen, CEO at Henley & Partners, says this trend is reshaping the investment migration landscape.
“Americans are now leading the demand worldwide for alternative residence and citizenship options, with British nationals also among the top five globally,” he says. “As the US and UK adopt increasingly inward-looking policies, we’re witnessing a marked rise in interest from their citizens seeking greater global access and security. Your passport is no longer just a travel document – it’s a reflection of your country’s diplomatic influence and international relationships. In an era of growing inequality and mounting geopolitical uncertainty, strategic mobility and citizenship planning are more critical than ever.”
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